ADHD Assessments for Adults
What is ADHD?
The acronym stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a common neurotype that begins in childhood. People with ADHD have significant strengths as well as challenges. A formal assessment considers a person’s history, current experiences, strengths and difficulties and whether the available information supports a diagnosis.
Why get an ADHD assessment with us?
If you are in your 30s or older, you may remember the stigma involved in receiving an ADHD diagnosis when we were kids. Twenty years ago there was a very different understanding of ADHD, what it is and how it affects people. The diagnosis was only considered for young people who were really struggling in school or had significant behavioural issues, and there was little understanding of how ADHD presents in girls, or how it affects adults.
This means that for many of us, the suspicion that we may have ADHD has come much later, perhaps when our own children were diagnosed, or when we have faced challenges in work or higher education. And that leaves us asking questions about whether the diagnosis fits, and if so, what that means for us, both in the present and the future.
An adult ADHD assessment brings together information about current experiences, developmental history and day-to-day functioning. The psychologist will explain the findings and discuss relevant information, recommendations and possible next steps. Assessment does not guarantee a diagnosis or any particular personal, clinical, workplace or treatment outcome.
FAQ
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For the ADHD assessment we rely primarily on the clinical interview with you. We will spend several hours with you, asking you in detail about your experience both as a child and currently. In addition we will:
Ask you to complete a number of screening questions for ADHD, autism, mental health conditions, executive dysfunction and masking and more.
Ask an informant (someone who knows you well) to complete some questionnaires about you.
Your psychologist will analyse the information to determine whether the available evidence supports an ADHD diagnosis.
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The feedback session is probably the most important part of the assessment process. Based on the findings of the assessment, your psychologist will talk with you about your specific strengths and difficulties, as well as how these things have affected you, both in the past and currently.
Your psychologist will spend time providing you with a detailed understanding of the features of ADHD and how your issues relate to these features. The psychologist will also discuss supports or referrals that may be relevant to the assessment findings and your circumstances.
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Your psychologist will provide a brief report explaining the assessment findings and whether diagnostic criteria were met. It may include recommendations and resources relevant to the findings. You may choose to share the report with treating practitioners, a workplace or another organisation, but the receiving organisation decides whether the report meets its requirements. A comprehensive report is available for an additional fee.
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The total cost of the assessment typically varies between $1400 and $1680. Please note that this approximation is the cost before any eligible rebates are applied, and the complexity of your situation will influence the overall total cost.
The assessment usually involves 3-3.5 hours of face-to-face assessment and feedback which costs $280 per hour. The exact number of face-to-face hours may vary depending on your needs. You may be eligible for a rebate for the face to face assessment and feedback sessions.
There is also a fixed cost for the indirect work and report writing of $560. These two costs make up your total.
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for part of the face-to-face assessment time, depending on your referral and individual circumstances. A private health insurer may cover part of the assessment - check directly with your insurer before starting. Medicare does not provide rebates for diagnostic reports or non-face-to-face assessment tasks. -
If medication is your main reason for seeking an ADHD assessment, consider speaking with your GP or psychiatrist first. Psychologists do not prescribe medication, and a medical practitioner may conduct their own assessment. This may affect the time and cost involved.
Some adults seek a psychological assessment to better understand how ADHD-related features may relate to their experiences. Whether this service is appropriate depends on individual circumstances.